Switchboard for electric-light circuits



(No new.

J. J. MOORE & D. A. HENRY G. M. HENRY, Admmistratrix of D. A HENRY,Deceased 'SWITGHBOARD FORELBGTRIG LIGHT GIRGUITS.

Patented Nov.

INVENTIIIRE ail-E NITED STATES PATENT OFrIcE J OI-lN- J MOORE ANDCATHARINE M. HENRY, ADHINISTRATRIX OF DORIVIN A. HENRY, DECEASED, OF NEWYORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO THE THOM- SON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OFCONNECTICUT.

SWITCHBOARD FOR ELECTRiC-LIGHT CIRCUITS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,643, dated November8, 1892;

Application filed April 9, 1890. Eierial No. 347,174. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that JOHN J. MOORE, a citizen of the United States, residingat New York city, in the county and State of New York, and DORWIN A.HENRY, deceased, late a citizen of the United States, who resided at NewYork city,.in the county and State of New York, invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Switchboards for Electric- Light Circuits, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates especially to switchboards for electric-arc-lightcircuits; but it may also be advantageously employed in otherelectric-light systems.

The invention consists in providing two sets of wires or strips placedat right angles to each other, one set being connected to the severaldynamos at a station and the other set being connected to the severalcircuits extending therefrom throughout the district to be supplied.Each set is provided with contact devices placed opposite to similardevices in the other set, whereby a connection 2 5 can be readilyestablished between any conducting strip or wire of one set and anystrip or wire of the other set.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Wl1lOl1--0 Figure l is a plan view of the switchboard. Fig. 2 is an end elevationthereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4is a View from beneath, and Fig. 5 is a detail of a connecting tube orsocket.

3 5 Referring to the drawings, A is a castiron frame in which aresupported two plates B and C, of slate or similar non-combustibleinsulating material. The lower plate C is bolted to the lower horizontalarms of the 0 frame A, while the plate B is held at its front edge bythe front brackets of the frame, but

is mainly supported by a series of porcelain columns D, which rest uponthe lower plate C, through which are passed long bolts E.

On the under side of each plate are a series of. conducting-wiresF,(shown more clearly in Fig. 4,) but which may be replaced by strips orbars of a size sufficient to carry the current. The two sets of wires Fupon the respective plates 13 and 0 run at right angles to each other.In the instance shown the wires on thelower plate C extend from front toback of the switchboard, while those upon the upper plate B extend fromside to side. Each wire of each setis provided with a series ofconnection-sockets placed directly opposite corresponding sockets uponthe other set, whereby a plug can be passed through one of the uppersockets connecting with a wire of one set and then extend through acorresponding socket connected to a corresponding wire in the lower set.These sockets are marked G and will be described in detail, especialreference being made to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, each being a duplicate of therest. They consist first of a tube H, passed through a correspondinghole in the plate B or C, and provided, at its end with a taperingslitted portion H, adapted to grip closely a' rod or plug K when it ispassed therethrough.

As will be seen in Fig.3, the slit part 11 of the lower set of tubes isat the upper end, while in the upper set of tubes it is at the lowerend. The tube H is passed through a hole in one of the plates, and onthe upper side of the plate it is surrounded by a washer J, and a nut I,while on the lower side it is provided with a nut L, which has twooppositelyplaced loops M, through which the wires F will be passed, andthereby connected to the socket.

Over nut I and washer J is placed an insulating button or cap N, so thatwhen a plug K is inserted it can never byany accident come in contactwith the wrong wire and cause a short circuit.

In the form of switchboard shown the plate C is somewhat wider than theplate B, and it is provided with an extra set of contactsockets O.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 4 that each wire F is'provided witha socket at the point where it crosses a similar wire in the other setand that it is provided at one end with a binding-post P, with whichconnection can be made. By this means any one wire or strip can beconnected with any wire or strip of the other set, and when one set isconnected with a series of dynamos and the other set is connected with aseries of line-circuits any dynamo can be connected with any circuit,and by means of a flexible conductor connecting two plugs dynamos can beconnected in series, or the circuits can be connected in series and anycombination desired can be made at will. The upper or front set of wiresis intended for connection with the several dynamos and the lower orrear set with the circuits. The extra row of sockets is in order thatany two circuits may be plugged in series by means of a flexibleconduetor.

e are aware it has been proposed to protect the sockets in a switchboardby sinking them below the surface of the insulating material of whichthe board is composed, and we make no claim to such a construction.Protection in our device is afforded by the caps N, which are separatefrom the plate B.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electric-light switchboard comprising two plates of insulatingmaterial supported at a distance apart, a set of wires or bars on eachplate, the set on one plate crossing the set on the other plate at anangle, and connection-sockets inserted in each plate at thecrossing-points, substantially as de scribed.

2. An electric-light switchboard having a metallic frame supporting at adistance apart two plates of slate or similar non-combustible insulatingmaterial, and a set of wires or bars on each plate, crossing each otherat an angle and provided with connection-sockets at the crossing-points.

3. An electric-light switchboard having two plates of slate or similarnoncombustible insulating material with separating-pillars of porcelainor similar material, and a set of terminals for each plate withconnection-sockets adapted to be connected by plugs reaching from oneplate to another.

4:- An electric-light switchboard having two sets of wires or barscrossing each other at an angle and provided with connection-sockets atthe crossing-points, having insulating-caps whereby false connectionsare avoided.

5. In an electric-light switchboard, the com bination, with two platesof slate or similar insulating material, of a set of wires or bars foreach plate and connection-sockets on said wires atthe crossing-points,the said sockets on the upper plate having insulating-caps.

6. In an electric-light switchboard, the combination, with two parallelseparated plates, of a set of contact-soekets on each plate, each socketconsisting of a tube extending through the plate and adapted to receivea contactplate, and a series of insulating-eaps for the contact-socketsof the upper plate.

7. In an electric-light switchboard, the combination, with a platehaving a series of contact-soekets, of a separate insulating-cap foreach for preventing false connections.

8. In an electric-light switchboard, the combination, with a plate ofinsulating' material, of a connection-socket composed of a tubeinsertedin a hole in said plate, the inner end of the tube being split and theouter end havinga cap of insulating material, substantially asdescribed.

9. The combination, in an electric-light switchboard, of two plates ofslate or similar non-combustible insulating material, separating-postsof porcelain or similar substance, a series of wires or rods on eachplate, provided with connecting-sockets adapted to be connected by meansof plugs, the said sockets on the upper plate being provided withinsulation to prevent false contacts upon the insertion of the plugs.

10. In an electric-light switchboard, the combination, with two platesof slate or similar insulating material separated a distance apart, ofcorresponding sets of wires or bars having connection-sockets andasupplementary set of contact-sockets upon one of said plates,substantially as described.

In witness whereof we, JOHN J. MOORE and CATHARINE M. HENRY,administratrix of the estate of DORWIN A. HENRY, have hereunto set ourhands and seals, this 4th day of April, 1890, in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. MOORE. CATHARINE M. HENRY, L. A(Km/mistr-atrim, dt'c.

\Vitnesses:

J. F. CnowELL, RoBT. MAITLAND.

